Who pays..?

If hair and makeup is mandatory, the bride should pay for it. If not, then it's okay to ask the bridal party to pay for their own.

If you’re requiring it, you pay. If they choose to do it, they pay.

Exactly what other ladies have said. Since you’re not requiring it, just let your girls know the price of the services and let them decide.

Anything I require my girls to wear (other than their dress), I provide simply because I don't feel that they should have to spend an arm and a leg to be in my wedding. For this reason, I am gifting them their jewelry sets and brooch pins.

That said, no one is paying for makeup and hair at my wedding. My mom and grandma are helping me with my hair and makeup (could do it myself but its really just a way to make sure they are included in things). My girls all decided they wanted to do their own so no one is getting professional hair/makeup done. Only professional cosmetics will be nails.

All of that said, if you are going to require it, you should pay for it. If you are giving it as an option, tell them up front that if they want it, it will be x dollars for make up and x dollars for their hair.

Since it is not required, you are not expected to pay the bill!

One thing I might consider though, is how you want your overall day to look - if you're having pro HMU artists do an elaborate up-do and glam makeup for some of the girls, will those who are not paying for it to be professionally done be able to mimic the styles? If you do want all the ladies to have professional hair and makeup, one thing you could consider would be to cover all hair and they cover makeup or you cover a portion of the bill and they cover a reduced price (if it is in the budget of course)!

I think having the hair and makeup done for everyone is a sweet gesture since these ladies have not only been great friends but also participated/paid for dresses, showers, bachelorette, etc. and it makes the day of so special and a bonding moment for everyone!

You only pay if their hair style is mandatory. Same as for nails, jewelry etc. Anything that is optional, they pay for.

For my wedding, I wanted everyone to get pampered and not have to worry about getting ready themselves and freaking out that it’s not what I wanted. So I paid for everyone to get their hair and makeup done and I let them pick their own hairstyles and I chose the makeup to be natural pinky. I even include moms of both mine and my husbands and also the flower girls and his aunt. It was a fun bonding experience for us. And one last time together before the wedding.

Since you aren't requiring, they would pay for it if they want it.

Nothing is mandatory at my wedding and I am deciding to pay for everyone to have hair and makeup since they all showed interest. I realize this is outside of the norm, but I really want to treat everyone to some pampering that morning. That said, I agree with the other posts - pay for it if it is required, if it is optional let them know the cost.

I've been in two weddings, I paid for my own (as a bridesmaid) both times. The bride didn't give any direction and we were able to pick our own styles. I paid for all my bridesmaids hair & makeup if they wanted it (two wanted to do their own makeup) and let them pick their own style.

I am requiring both but only paying for one. I gave everyone a year and a half’s notice and how much they will owe. I think it’s fair.

I've seen both ways. If you have the money for it, it's a nice gesture, but not required. Like other ladies have said if its a requirement then you pay, if its an option they pay. I've been bridesmaid too where the bride paid for the hair and makeup, but the bridesmaids had to tip for the work they had done which I thought was a fair compromise.

I paid for my own hair and the brides hair. I don’t expect anyone to chip in though. Just a nice surprise if they do.

I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule. I’m paying for hair and makeup for my bridesmaids as their bridesmaids gift, but I don’t think the bride has to pay.

I have a lot of bridesmaids and can't afford to pay for all their hair and makeup so I asked them all if they wanted it or not. If they do want it, they are going to pay because it's not required and I let them know the price before they decided.

In my situation one of my brides maid is doing my hair and makeup. My sister MOH is foing her own hair and makeup a long with the other two. So I really don't know how to respond.

I paid for hair only as a bridesmaid gift. I know a few other girls who gifted hair instead of giving the standard wine glass or some other material item. It was also a requirement for desired my hair & makeup artist to have a minimum number of services booked for then to come to us (hair +make up counted as 2 services) and paying for the girls met the number requirement and was a nice treat for them. Make up was optional. I let them know the rate it would be, and when they needed to let me know, to let hair & makeup know.

Over and over, people are saying " if you require it ". Brides may state a preference, as in, "I would like it if you would wear your hair up, with curls..." But after hearing her out, brides cannot REQUIRE someone get it done professionally, at all. Or if they do get it done, that they do it a particular way . They can choose to pay only for a certain style, as a gift. But though a bride may choose items of clothing, a dress or a suit, she cannot require they change their bodies, their hair, color or style, nor face makeup, or tattoos, or facial hair. The WP are friends and family, not professional models making $300 an hour to projects a certain image. It makes my blood boil to hear people talk about requiring other people to change their bodies. In proper social manners, you never, ever, say or imply that your honored friends and family are unattractive as they choose to present themselves. Whether they fit a bride's vision, or not, WP control their own bodies.